Line tension controls the spontaneous formation of vesicles

Mixtures of the zwitterionic surfactant TDMAO and the anionic surfactant LiPFOS spontaneously self-assemble into well defined vesicles. The size of these vesicles is determined by the ratio of bending rigidity and line tension. By partially charging TDMAO, and thereby moving more to a catanionic system, the size of these vesicles can be controlled. Using stopped flow small angle neutron scattering we monitor the kinetics of vesicle formation and obtain their final size. Neutron spin echo spectroscopy allows for an independent measurement of the vesicle's bending rigidity. Combining this bending rigidity with the radius of newly formed vesicles, which is determined by the ratio of bending rigidity and line tension, we can determine the line tension. We find that it is the line tension that controls the trend in size of the vesicles. In summary, this means that here one has a surfactant mixture that delivers well-defined vesicles, whose size is controlled by the electrostatic interactions of the head groups.